Extractor



Jan. 20, 1959 P. N BEAUCHAMP EXTRACTOR INVENTOR. flzzz f/ifiaaz a/fawp BY ATTORNEY Filed Dec. 20, 1956 Z T /q F I United States Patent ffice EXTRACTOR Paul N. Beauchamp, Flint, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application December 20,1956, Serial No. 629,571

2 Claims. (Cl. 294--92) The invention relates to a self-locking and releasing extractingfmechanism and .is particularly adapted to be used ,with fragile articles of manufacture such as electronic tubes. An extractor embodying the invention permits easy removalof such articles of manufacture from protective. packaging without damaging the articles.

Recent developments in the packaging art for electronic tubes haveresulted in a hard packaging material which surrounds the glass envelope of the electronic tube and extends around and beyond the terminal pins of the tube which extend from its base. When attempting toremove such tubes by hand from the packaging, only one'o'r two-of-the terminal pins may be grasped and'all 0f the pulling force necessary to extract the tube is exerted on those pins. While the pins are comparatively sturdy they are not built to withstand such use without damage. Due to the nature of the packaging it 7 2,869,917 Patented Jan. 20, 1 959 yond the tube terminal pins 16. These pins extend from the base 18 of the tube and are circumferentially spaced. The electronic tube illustrated has spaces for ten such terminal pins, one of the spaces having no terminal pin. This is conventional electronic tube design. The nine pins extend parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube.

The extractor 20 includes-a mount 22 which may be used as a handle. A base plate 24 may be secured to one end of mount 22 by any convenient means such as center bolt 26. Base plate 24 is provided with a plurality of apertures 28 which are circumferentially spaced and coincide with the terminal pin spaces of the tube 10. Since the tube has ten such terminal pin spaces, ten apertures are provided. This arrangement permits the use of the extractor without orientation. Each aperture extends from the open face 30 of base plate 24 in a direction parallel to the axis of the extractor and terminates atan enlarged counterbore 32 which is coaxial with the aperture 28. Counterbore 32 extends to the face 34 of the base plate which is in contact with mount 22.

' Counterbores'32 are preferably longer than apertures 28.

is difficult to remove the packaging from the tube without causing damage to the tube itself. The pulling force on each of the terminal pins may be materially lessened, however, if all terminal pins extending from the base of the tube are equally stressed when removing the tube from the package. An extractor embracing the invention permits the removal of the tube from the package by gripping all of the terminal pins to exert a substantially equal force on each of the pins.- Since there are usually nine pins on each tube, each pin need only carry one-ninth of the force necessary to pull the tube out of the package. This reduction in stress placed longitudinally on the terminal pins greatly decreases the probability of damaging the tube. After the tube is extracted from the package the gripping elements of the tube extractor may be easily and quickly released and the tube is immediately available for use.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows an extractor embodying the invention and fitted over the terminal pins of an electronic tube, parts being broken away and in section.

Figure 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrows 22 of Figure 1 with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the locking portion of the extractor of Figure 1 illustrating one terminal pin in a locked position, with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 4 shows the locking element of the extractor of Figure 1 in a released position in relation to a terminal pin, with parts broken away and in section.

The extractor may be used to exert an axial pull on any longitudinally extending members and is particularly useful when several parallel longitudinal members are to be engaged by a self-locking clutch and an axial pulling force exerted equally on each member. The embodiment illustrated is in the form of an electronic tube extractor which is adapted to assist in removing electronic tubes from hard packaging.

The electronic tube 10 may be contained in suitable hard packaging 12. The packaging completely envelopes the glass envelope 14 on the tube and extends be- Each counterbore 32 is provided with an inwardly extending cocking pin 36 which may be inserted in apertures passing-from the outer surface 38 of base plate 24 radially inward to each of the counterbores 32. Cocking pins 36 preferably terminate at a point radially out- Wardof aperture 28 and radially inward from the inner surface ofcounterbore 32. The cocking pins therefore extend into the counterbores and provide an abutment which does not overlap the apertures 28.

A washer 40 is inserted in each of the counterbores 32 before the base plate 24 is assembled on the mount 22. The base plate 24 is then secured to the mount 22 and the washers are effectively imprisoned within the counterbores in a space intermediate the cocking pins 36 and the mount 22. Washers 40 are preferably annular in configuration and have an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of counterbores 32. The aperture 42 of each washer preferably has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of apertures 28. The outer diameter of washer 40 is such that the washer cannot be flatly positioned in the end of counterbore 32 adjacent aperture 28, but will, instead, engage cocking pin 36 with one side.

In order to use the extractor it should be held in an upright position, that is, with the base plate at the bottom of the mount. The tube 10 may be held with the terminal pins 16 extending upwardly. The terminal pins are aligned with apertures 28 and passed upwardly therethrough into washer apertures 42. Since terminal pins 16 are usually provided with a smooth end, no diificulty in aligning the pins with the apertures is encountered. When the pins 16 are in a position such that they extend entirely through washers 40, the extractor 20 may be moved in a direction away from tube 10. The washers 40 rest with one edge on cocking pin 36 due to gravity and are tilted so that their axes are not in alignment with the axes of the terminal pins. The upper inner edge 44 of washer 40 engages pin 16 on the side adjacent cocking pin 36. The lower inner edge 46 of Washer 40 engages terminal pins 16 at a point opposite cocking pin 36. When the extractor 20 is moved in a direction away from the tube 10, the cocking position of washer 40 causes edges 44 and 46 to grip terminal pins 16 and the extractor is locked on the terminal pins. force is maintained between the electron tube and package assembly and the extractor, they may be turned in any direction without releasing the clutching action of the washers. The hard packaging 12 may be held in one hand and the extractor pulled axially away, pulling the tube 10 out of the packaging.

So long as a pulling I The terminal pins may be readily released by inverting the tube and extractor. The washers 40 will fall to the end of counterbores 32 adjacent the mount 22. Since the washers are no longer tilted, their grip on pins 16 will be released and the tube may be readily withdrawn from the extractor.

An extractor such as that illustrated is particularly adapted to use with electric tubes. However, extractors may also be manufactured Within the scope of the invention which may be used on other articles of manufacture when a self-locking clutching action and readily releasable clutch is desirable.

What is claimed is:

1. In an extractor for removing an electronic tube from a package, a mount, a base plate secured to said mount, said base plate having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures extending therethrough and adapted to receive electronic tube terminal pins, each of said apertures having a counterbore of larger diameter than said aperture, said counterbores extending inwardly from the surface of said base plate adjacent said mount and terminating Within said plate, a cocking pin extending radially into each of said counterbores adjacent the inner terminus thereof and terminating radially outward from said apertures, an annular washer in each of said counterbores, said Washers having an outer diameter less than the diameter of said counterbores and an inner diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said apertures, said Washers engaging said cocking pins when said extractor is in an upright position and gripping said terminal pins when said terminal pins are inserted through said apertures and said Washers whereby said tube may be extracted from said package with substantially equal d distribution of forces on said terminal pins after which said extractor and tube may be inverted to loosen said washers and permit removal of said terminal pins from said extractor.

2. In combination in an extractor for longitudinal members, a base plate having a plurality of chambers formed therein in axially parallel and circumferentially spaced relation, a mount for said base plate, said mount closing one end of each of said chambers, the other end of each of said chambers terminating at a coaxial aperture having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said chambers and passing through said base plate, an annular locking member received in each of said chambers for locking said longitudinal members within said chambers under influence of a force tending to separate said members and said base plate and for releasing said longitudinal members under the influence of gravity and the cessation of said force, each of said annular locking members having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the chamber within which it is received and an inner diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said coaxial aperture associated therewith, and means in each of said chambers for engaging and cocking said locking members to obtain said locking action.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 790,331 Terry May 23, 1905 1,352,172 Brandon Sept. 7, 1920 1,754,816 Caniff Apr. 15, 1930 2,770,988 Jasse Nov. 20, 1956 

